So, I found it a bit disconcerting today when I had a question about today's entry. I didn't quite agree with what he had written. He writes, "God has only one intended destiny for mankind -- holiness. His only goal is to produce saints."
The entry talks about pursuing holiiness and quotes 1 Peter 1:16 that says, "it is written, 'Be holy, for I am holy.'"
So if I disagree with Chambers am I saying I disagree with the Bible?
Actually, I really don't disagree with either source but I think holiness should not be pursued, only Jesus. And if we are seeking God and being close to Him holiness will be a by-product of that pursuit. When we choose to pursue a characteristic of the Christian life I believe we can get off track.
My oldest child recently began college and one of the things I hope and pray for him is that he will stay healthy. Being healthy makes life a whole lot easier than when we are unhealthy. One of the things I told him is to remember to take his vitamins. This is a good thing but if it is all he does to stay healthy he isn't going to stay healthy. Taking vitamins will not give people good health if the rest of their lives is filled with unhealthy practices.
Same goes for us spiritually. If our spiritual life starts to consist of just trying to be holy we will get off track and we will not be holy but become religious and stiff. We will quickly stop the flow of the abundant life flow. Only by pursuing Jesus and looking to Him all the time will that abundant life keep flowing out of us. Jesus says He came to give abundant life to all who want it. He says in John 10, "The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have it abundantly."